Method and apparatus for manufacturing slide fasteners



A July 9, 1968 a. K. THAELER 3,391,442

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING SLIDE FASTENERS Filed May 27, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR 32068 K. 76995252 ATTOR B. k. THAELER July 9,19 8

METHOD AND APPARA'rus' FORMANUEACTURING suns ms'musas Filed 143;; '27. 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 m w m 3 946? K ff/JEZEI ATTOR EY;

United States Patent 3,391,442 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MANU- FACTURING SLIDE FASTENERS Bruce K. Thaeler, Meadville, Pa., assignor to Talon, Inc., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed May 27, 1966, Ser. No. 555,928 11 Claims. (Cl. 29-408) This invention relates to improvements in methods and apparatus for manufacturing slide fasteners; and, more particularly, to an improved method and apparatus for applying sliders to a slide fastener.

A certain amount of skill and dexterity is required of an operator in order to attach a slider to a partially completed slide fastener. The mechanisms used heretofore for this purpose have been either devices which must be loaded by hand with individual sliders; or, slider feeding devices which have a mechanism for advancing a single slider from a supply to an attaching station where the operator inserts the joined pair of stringers of the slide fastener into and through the slider.

Generally, in the latter arrangement, the slider is loosely mounted on the advancing mechanism which moves in a recessed track across a flat surface to the attaching station where it comes to rest in a manner such that the body of the slider is loosely positioned slightly above the flat surface. In order to thread the slide fastener stringers of the slide fastener through the slider, the operator must grasp the outer marginal edges of each stringer between forefinger and thumb and move the interengaged elements of the slide fastener into the throat of the slider. Because the throat is located in a plane spaced closely adjacent to the flat surface, the operator generally places his thumbs on the tapes adjacent the elements so as to maneuver the elements into longitudinal alignment with the throat of the slider, while the outer marginal surfaces of the tape are curved upwardly by the forefingers so that the stringers can be properly grasped. Such manual dexterity and manipulation on the part of the operator greatly adds to the expense of manufacturing slide fasteners. In addition, because the slider is loosely mounted, it very often assumes an abnormal position such that the operator has d-ifiiculty placing the stringers of the fastener in alignment with the throat of the slider.

The general object of this invention is to provide a device which facilitates the assembling of a slider onto a slide fastener.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method of supplying a succession of individual sliders to a given station for attachment to a succession of individual slide fasteners.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a mechanismfor moving a slider to an attaching station and positively positioning it there in a manner such that a slide fastener can readily be assemblied thereto.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide a fixture for a slider which elevates the slider above its sur roundings in order for a slide fastener to be readily attached thereto.

Another object of this invention is to provide a movable slider holder which positively maintains a slider at an elevated station, spaced from its immediate surroundings.

A further object of this invention is to provide a simple, effective and inexpensive device for holding a slider while the operator is free to use both hands in pulling the slide fastener stringers through the slider.

Other objects and a fuller understanding of the invention can 'be had by referring to the following description and claims taken in conjunction with the drawings in which:

3,391,442 Patented July 9, 1968 "ice FIG. 1 is a side elevation view, partly in section, of the slider mounting apparatus;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged partial perspective view of the mechanism for holding a slider in the unloaded position;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 3 with the mechanism for holding a slider, in the loaded position; and,

FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of the slider holding fixture.

Referring more particularly to FIG. 1 of the drawings, there is shown a base 10 upon which is mounted at one end a drive motor and gear reducing unit 12 which in turn actuates a drive sprocket 14. A driven shaft 16 suitably journaled on base 10, carries at one end thereof a driven sprocket 18 and a slip clutch 20, located adjacent to each other, with sprocket 18 positioned in alignment with sprocket -14 such that a chain or belt drive 22 readily interconnects both for rotation together. A second shaft 24, journaled between the opposed side walls 23 and 25 of the casing 26 and projectin outwardly thereof in axial alignment with shaft 16, is operatively connected to slip clutch 20 so as to be rotatably driven by shaft 16. A drive sprocket 28 is secured to shaft 24 intermediate its length for rotation therewith. A plurality of idler sprockets 30, 32 and 34 are journaled between side walls 23 and 25 of casing 26, with a fourth idler sprocket 36 mounted above and at the juncture of top wall 38 and slanted wall 40 of casing 26. Idler sprockets 30, 32, 34 and 36 are located in alignment with each other as well as in alignment with sprocket 28 such that a single chain drive 42 driven by sprocket 28 and operatively interconnecting all of the idler sprockets, will drive each of them. In particular it should be noted that the mounting of idle-r sprockets 30, 34 and 36 adjacent to walls 38 and 40 of casing 26 permits chain drive 42 to travel along a path which is spaced from the lower surface of these same walls while following the approximate surface contour thereof.

As shown in the drawings, casing 26 includes a short lateral wall 44 having a cut-out 46 located therein as well as a second slanted wall 48. A movable hook-shaped pickup finger 50 is secured to a bearing shaft 52 journaled for rotatable movement to side wall 23 of casing 26. A tension spring 54 biases finger 50 in a clockwise direction about shaft 52 such that it normally rests in juxtaposition against that edge of cut-out 46 defined by the upper edge of slanted wall 40. A stop block 56 secured to the lower surface of wall 44' and extending inwardly of cut-out 46, limits the pivotal movement of finger 50 in the counterclockwise direction. When moved in the counterclockwise direction to abut against stop 56, finger 50 projects outwardly of cut-out 46 and above the flat surface of wall 44.

In FIG. 5, finger 50 includes a base 58 secured to bearing shaft 52 for movement therewith. An upwardly extending member 60 is curved at the top to form a horizontal leg 62. Adjacent the outer end of leg 62 there is located a transverse slot 64 which is radial to the axis of rotation of finger 50 about shaft 52 and defines a closed end wall 65. The width of slot 64 is slightly greater than the width of a pull tab 66 of a slider 68. Directly beneath slot 64 there is located in base 58 a similar slot 70 which includes a closed end wall 72 such that when slider 68 is mounted on leg 62 the opposite ends of pull tab 66 can be located and accommodated in slots 64 and 70 and supported thereby.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a spring biased slider arrester 74 is mounted to top wall 38 of casing 26 and at the bottom of a guide rail 76 such that a plurality of sliders 68, supplied from a supply hopper (not shown) and properly oriented with their pull tabs 66 extending downwardly and adapted to move down rail 76, will be 3 halted thereby. Arrester 74, which is well known in the prior art, will only permit individual sliders to pass thereby, when a force is exerted on the lowermost slider .on guide rail 76.

Adjacent to arrester 74 and extending longitudinally across top wall 38, up slanted wall 40 and into alignment with slot 64 in pick-up finger 50, when in its normal position, is a guide track slot 80. A guide rail 82 is secured to top wall 38 adjacent to slot 80 such that edge 81 is elevated from the surface .of wall 38. Rail 82 is, in effect, a continuation of guide rail 76 and has a cross sectional configuration such that a slider 68, moving down rail 76, past arrester 74, will move onto rail 82 with the wings of slider 68 located on opposite sides of rail 82. The downwardly depending pull tab 66 of slider 68 is accommodated in slot 80, so that pull tab 66 will be maintained in a substantially vertical position throughout its path of movement as slider 68 moves from guide rail 76 to finger 50.

Guide track slot 80 is located above and to one side of the path of movement of chain drive 42. A plurality of drive pins 85 are spaced at intervals along the length of chain drive 42 and extend laterally therefrom such that the central portion of each pin is located directly beneath slot 80 and in a position to engage pull tab 66 of slider 68.

In operation drive motor and gear reduction unit 12 rotates sprocket 14 in a counterclockwise direction which in turn rotates driven sprocket 18, shaft 24 and drive gear 28 in a counterclockwise direction. Accordingly, chain drive 42, which carries drive pins 85, will be driven through its path in a substantially counterclockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 1, in a manner so that a pin 85 passing around idler gear 30 will move intermediate the two lowermost sliders 68 on rail 76 and thereby engage the pull tab 66 of the lowermost slider 68. The force exerted by pin 85 on pull tab 66 of the slider 68 is such that it will overcome the retention force of arrester 74 and the slider will move through the path along the top wall 38 of casing 26 with its downwardly depending pull tab 66 retained in guide track slot 80.

As best shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, pins 85 on chain drive 42 will carry slider 68 up slanted wall 40 to a first station where pull tab 66 will be inserted into slots 64 and 70 of pick-up finger 50, with the body of slider 68 resting upon the top surface of horizontal leg 62. The closed end wall 72 of slot 70 and the closed end wall 65 of slot 64 will engage the side edge of pull tab 66 to capture and retain tab 66 therein. Slider 68 will be substantially rigidly held by pick-up finger 50. In addition, pin 85 on chain drive 42 will be in contact with the opposite edge of tab 66 to maintain pull tab in its seated position on pick-up finger 50.

Because the driving force exerted on chain drive 42 is greater than the biasing force .of spring 54 urging finger in a clockwise direction, chain drive 42 will move and carry both slider 68 and pick-up finger 50 in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 1, until the pick-up finger comes to rest in engagement with the stop block 56. At this second station, pick-up finger 50 is located substantially in a vertical position with pull tab 66 downwardly depending therefrom in a substantially vertical position and the wings of slider 68 located in a substantially horizontal position. Once pick-up finger 50 engages stop block 56, chain drive 42 is disengaged from chain drive 22 by slip clutch 20, although drive motor and gear reduction 12 will continue to rotate.

As best shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, slider 68 is now mounted on pick-up finger 50 in a position substantially elevated above lateral wall 44 of casing 26 and because slanted walls 40 and 48 are tapered away from pick-up finger 50, there is no immediate structure of the mechanism located adjacent to slider 68. Hence, the operator, in manually inserting the slide fastener (not shown) has an unobstructed area which can accommodate his hands 4 such that the slide fastener can readily be inserted into the throat of the slider.

Once the interdigitating elements of a slide fastener are inserted into slider 68, it can be removed by exerting an upward force on the semi-completed slide fastener so that pull tab 66 is displaced upwardly out of engagement with slots 64 and in pick-up finger 50. After slider 68 is removed, the biasing force of spring 54 will move pick-up finger 50 in a clockwise direction from the second station to the first station where it is again in position to receive the next slider.

Removal of pull tab 66 from finger 50 frees chain drive 42 for movement which places chain drive 42 in driving relationship with drive motor and gear reduction unit 12, whereby a second slider can be advanced to the first station where it is received by pick-up finger 50 and transported from the first station to the second station substantially in a manner as described hereinabove.

The invention has been described in detail with particular reference to preferred embodiments thereof, but it will be understood that variations and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scope of the invention as described hereinabove and as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for moving a slider from a source of supply to a second station, comprising:

first means for both orienting and guiding a slider body in a given path from a source of supply to a first station;

second means for receiving said slider at said first station and normally urged by a biasing force to remain in juxtaposition to said first station and movable therefrom to a second station where said slider is both spaced away from its immediate surroundings and said first station; and,

third means for moving said slider from said supply to said first station where said slider is received by said second means, said third means continuing to move said slider carried by said second means with a force greater than the biasing force exerted on said second means to move said second means and said slider together to said second station where said slider is spaced from its surroundings such that a slide fastener can readily be threaded therethrough.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said slider includes a slider body and a pull tab pivotally mounted thereto and said second means includes a fourth means for retaining said slider body and said pull tab in a substantially rigid position whereby said slider body and said pull tab can be placed and maintained in driving relationship with said third mean-s.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said fourth means receives said pivotally mounted pull tab at said first station in a position arcuately spaced from said slider body whereby said tab can be readily engaged by said third means.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said fourth means is a pair of spaced apart slots located in said second means for accommodating and capturing opposite ends of said pull tab with the intermediate portion of said pull tab located in the path of said third means.

5. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said second means includes a pair of spaced apart cross members located one above the other, each joined at a common end by a common member, each of said cross members having a slot located therein, respectively, intermediate their length whereby opposite ends of said pull tab are received therein.

6. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said third means carries a fifth means for engaging said slider and exerting a moving force on said slider to move it from said supply to said second station.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said second means includes a pair of spaced apart members located one above the other and having a fourth means located therein for receiving and carrying said pull tab of said slider therein, said fifth means moving in a path to pass intermediate said spaced-apart members to engage said pull tab carried by said fourth means to move said slider to said second station.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said third means is a movable drive chain and said fifth means is a pin projecting laterally therefrom to engage said pull tab and move said slider from said supply to said second station.

9. A method of supplying individual sliders which comprises the steps of:

driving with a constant force each individual slider through a given path, which includes a first station, from a source of supply to a second station;

receiving said individual slider in means located at said first station for maintaining said slider in an oriented condition;

transporting said individual slider received in said means located at said first station from said first station to said second station, the force exerted on said slider moving said slider and said means together to said second station whereat said slider is spaced from its 6 surroundings such that a slide fastener can readily be threaded therethrough.

10. A method of supplying individual sliders having a slider body and a pivotally mounted pull tab according to claim 9, which includes the step of guiding said sliders in an oriented condition from a supply to said first station.

11. A method of supplying individual sliders according to claim 10 Which includes the step of positioning said slider tab in said means at said first station in an oriented condition such that the driving force for moving said slider is exerted along one edge of said pull tab.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,219,165 10/1940 Nedal 29408 2,287,263 6/1942 Nedal 29208 2,838,831 6/1958 Aubuchon 29408 X 2,949,666 8/1960 Rogers et a1. 29-211 3,110,414 11/1963 Perlrnan 22122 3,127,670 4/1964 Bruning 29200 3,234,637 2/1966 McMahon 29-408 THOMAS H. EAGER, Primary Examiner. 

1. APPARATUS FOR MOVING A SLIDER FROM A SOURCE OF SUPPLY TO A SECOND STATION, COMPRISING: FIRST MEANS FOR BOTH ORIENTING AND GUIDING A SLIDER BODY IN A GIVEN PATH FROM A SOURCE OF SUPPLY TO A FIRST STATION; SECOND MEANS FOR RECEIVING SAID SLIDER AT SAID FIRST STATION AND NORMALLY URGED BY A BIASING FORCE TO REMAIN IN JUXTAPOSITION TO SAID FIRST STATION AND MOVABLE THEREFROM TO A SECOND STATION WHERE SAID SLIDER IS BOTH SPACED AWAY FROM ITS IMMEDIATE SURROUNDINGS AND SAID FIRST STATION; AND, THIRD MEANS FOR MOVING SAID SLIDER FROM SAID SUPPLY TO SAID FIRST STATION WHERE SAID SLIDER IS RECEIVED BY SAID SECOND MEANS, SAID THIRD MEANS CONTINUING TO MOVE SAID SLIDER CARRIED BY SAID SECOND MEANS WITH A FORCE GREATER THAN THE BIASING FORCE EXERTED ON SAID SECOND MEANS TO MOVE SAID SECOND MEANS AND SAID SLIDER TOGETHER TO SAID SECOND STATION WHERE SAID SLIDER IS SPACED FROM ITS SURROUNDINGS SUCH THAT A SLIDE FASTENER CAN READILY BE THREADED THERETHROUGH. 